Collapsible crate



Aug. 6, 1935.

v A. F. WESLEY 2,010,121

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Filed Nov. 4, 1933 3 Sheets Sheet s l I l I l I l Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,010,121 COLLAPSIBLE RATE Alexander Fulton Wesley, Baltimore, Md. Application November 4, 1933, Serial No. 696,625 1 Claim. (01. 220-6) This invention refers to crates and more particularly to those intended for the transportation of poultry, and has among its objects, to provide a collapsible crate of metal of light and efiicient construction; to have means for tightening the sides and top together so that they will be most securely set in position; to have the con struction such that poultry may drink conveniently while held in this crate, tohave it sanitary and readily cleanable; and other objects that will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth. I

Many types of poultry crates have been used in the past, and are intended as a rule for wood 15 construction, and are subject to the spread of disease because of the tendency of the wood to take up and hold bacilli of various natures. When the wood gets cracked or broken, which readily happens from the rough usage which such articles receive, they become more unsuitable for use with such live stock. This invention requires the use of metal, so as to make it sanitary, strong and capable of long use. The metal parts are arranged to provide for a com- 25 pact closure of the article when collapsed for return transportation, to provide for a positive means for tightening the parts together so they will not loosen in transportation with the poultry contained therein; and the parts are not materially injured for use. even though bent or damaged in usage.

In the drawings which are used to illustrate this invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a poultry crate with top embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 without top.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the top.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of Figure 3 along the line AA.

Figure 5 indicates sectional elevation along line C-C, Figure 2 showing the crate and top in a collapsed position.

Figure 6 shows a plan detail of the lower corner construction of the crate ends and sides.

45 Figure '7 shows a sectional detail of the lower corner rod construction and connections.

Figure 8 is a plan detail of the tightening device and lever stop used to tighten the sides, ends and top together.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an end elevation of Figure 8. v

Figure ll. is a plan detail of the upper corners and rungs Where the sides and ends slidably attach to each other.

Figure 12 is an elevation detail of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of Figure 3 along the line BB showing a support of the inverted U type which supports the upper rung of the crate sides.

Similar reference characters refer to similar 5 parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction shown, the reference character I refers to the side bars of the poultry crate, which are. secured to the rungs 2 at the top and bottom, for the sides. The ends have bars 3 and 10" rungs 4. The bottom floor is indicated at 5 and consists of a flat plate pressed into the desired form. The top or cover I is provided with rungs 8 and bars 9 together with flat reinforcing members I0. An inverted U member 14 supports 15 the upper rung of the crate sides against the cover and its flat rungs 8. A gate I2 is provided forthe insertion or withdrawal of the poultry, and opens with a sliding motion in one direction, and then opens on a hinge, a feature which makes the door hard to open by accident or unintentionally.

The manner of connecting the sides together is such that the sides may be closed in on the bottom of the crate flat, the connections at the 5 corners l3 acting as hinges for the purpose. The ends may be closed on top 'of the sides, their hinge members l3 permitting this to be done and allowing them to set flat.

The rungs are preferably of tubing, and attached by the insertable plugs l6 as indicated. The crate is framed with angle irons I! as shown and the plate 5 is provided for the purposes to be described. Hook members l9 are also provided and may be bolted, riveted or welded in place.

The tightener consists of ahandle 2| and toggle member 6 arranged to pull powerfully, and with its threaded shank 20, may be adjusted to suit the conditions at any time.

In the gate construction, the door itself is preferably of sheet metal with a portion bent into a hinge 22, that is mounted on a rod 23. A flap 24 is provided on it to rest on rod 25 that is provided on the cover as indicated. A side piece 26 on the door is provided with a hole 2'1, which aligns with a plug 28 on the cover construction and serves to prevent the door from being opened on the hinge. A spring 29 on rod 23 keeps the door against the side of the member ID where the plug 28 is located. The operation of opening the door consists in pushing the door away from the plug side so as to detach the side piece 26 from it, and against the resilient push of the spring, and then when so disengaged to swing the door open on its hinge 22, detaching the side piece 26 holding the door closed on the rod 28.

When the sides are lifted open and are positioned vertically with the ends, the rungs 2 at the top of the sides are of open tubing, with the plug 38 driven or welded in the end, while the upper rungs 4 of the ends are provided with extension members 30 that insert into the end portions 38 of the upper rungs 2 of the sides, holding both the sides and ends securely together in a rigid manner.

The hook members is are at corners of the cover, which are rigidly attached to the latter and are so arranged that they will engage over the rungs 4 on one end and permit the ends and cover being brought tightly together, especially when the toggle handles 2| at the two corners where they are located, are operated into closing position.

The floor 5 is also provided with a pressed out groove 3! in order to provide for reinforcement and drainage, which is arranged for also by providing holes 32 as indicated, the grooves and holes also prevent the poultry from slipping and falling on the metal flooring. The holes not only drain the grooves but also enable air to circulate through the crates.

A hole 34 is provided in the door and aligns with a hole 33 in the reinforcing member l0 adjacent to it, in order that a seal and wire may be fastened therethrough, to prevent the unauthorized opening of the crate and the removal of the poultry or other animals, through the door. An arrangement for wire-and-seal lock is also provided on the toggle member by providing a hole 35 in the handle 2|, and another hole 36 in the lug 31 which holds the threaded shank 2B and also forms a stop for the travel of the handle 2 I. This last arrangement when wired and sealed, serves to prevent the removal of the top of the crate. All the parts of this crate are preferably made of pressed steel construction to eliminate the use of welding when the crate is being manufactured.

When it is desirable to use the crate, its hook members are detached when the toggle members are loosened permitting the sides to be lifted outwards, and the ends placed against them, after which the cover is closed down and the crate is ready, to be closed tightly by means of the toggle and hooks. The gate is used in the manner already described. It should be noted that the crate does not have any central partition, and thus allows free movement of the poultry about it. The vertical bars being open and not provided with cross bars, permit the poultry to get water to drink without cause for cramping or distressing them.

While but one form of the construction of the invention is shown in the drawings, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular construction other than limited by the prior art, as it is appreciated that other forms could be made that would employ the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A collapsible crate comprising in combination a bottom floor having a tray thereon and a frame around the exterior portions of the floor, a plurality of longitudinal sides having hollow rungs with insertable plugs for the ends thereof at top and bottom, said sides being hingedly attached to said frame and adapted to swing over and lay flat on the bottom floor, a plurality of end sides having hollow rungs with insertable plugs in the open ends thereof, the plugs at the bottom being hinged to said frame, and those at the top being projectable into the upper side rungs of the aforementioned longitudinal sides, when in open position and heads on the plugs for keeping the sides and frame against the rungs, a top for covering the sides and completing the crate with hooks at one end to engage on an end side and a covered toggle and hook member for engaging on another end side and binding all the sides together and locking the insertable plugs in place, said end sides being arranged to swing over on the longitudinal sides when in knock-down position, and to be locked down together with the top in compact registry with each other with said toggle member, and within the space occupied by the said frame.

ALEXANDER FULTON WESLEY. 

